# Environmental Permitting Guide Reference

## Overview

Environmental permitting in the United States involves multiple federal, state, and local regulatory programs. This guide covers the major federal permits required for facilities with environmental impacts.

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## CLEAN WATER ACT PERMITS

### NPDES Permits (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System)

**Citation**: 33 USC § 1342; 40 CFR Parts 122-125

#### Purpose
Control discharges of pollutants to "waters of the United States" from point sources.

#### Applicability
- Industrial facilities discharging process wastewater
- Municipal wastewater treatment plants (POTWs)
- Stormwater discharges from industrial activities
- Construction stormwater (>1 acre disturbance)
- Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
- Municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s)

#### Permit Types

| Type | Description | Duration |
|------|-------------|----------|
| Individual | Site-specific permit with tailored limits | Up to 5 years |
| General | Covers category of similar dischargers | Up to 5 years |
| POTW | Municipal treatment works | Up to 5 years |

#### Key Permit Components
1. **Effluent Limitations** - Technology-based and water quality-based limits
2. **Monitoring Requirements** - Sampling frequency, parameters, methods
3. **Reporting Requirements** - DMRs, noncompliance notifications
4. **Standard Conditions** - Proper O&M, bypass provisions, upset provisions
5. **Special Conditions** - BMP requirements, compliance schedules

#### Technology-Based Effluent Limits (TBELs)

| Standard | Applies To | Basis |
|----------|-----------|-------|
| BPT | Existing sources, conventional pollutants | Best Practicable Technology |
| BAT | Existing sources, toxic/nonconventional | Best Available Technology |
| BCT | Existing sources, conventional | Best Conventional Technology |
| NSPS | New sources | New Source Performance Standards |

#### Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits (WQBELs)
- Applied when TBELs insufficient to meet water quality standards
- Based on receiving water designated uses
- May include mixing zone allowances
- Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) may require stricter limits

#### Application Process
1. Submit EPA Form 1 (general information)
2. Submit EPA Form 2 (industry-specific)
3. Public notice and comment period (30 days minimum)
4. Opportunity for public hearing
5. Permit issuance/denial decision
6. Administrative appeal (within 30 days of final decision)

### Section 404 Wetlands Permits

**Citation**: 33 USC § 1344; 40 CFR Part 230, 33 CFR Parts 320-332

#### Purpose
Regulate discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands.

#### Regulatory Authority
- **US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)** - Primary permit authority
- **EPA** - Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines, veto authority

#### Permit Types

| Type | Description | Processing Time |
|------|-------------|-----------------|
| Individual | Major projects, significant impacts | 6-24 months |
| Nationwide (NWP) | Pre-authorized activities meeting conditions | Self-certification to 45 days |
| Regional General | State/district-specific general permits | Varies |
| Letters of Permission | Minor activities, minimal individual/cumulative impacts | 30-60 days |

#### Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines (40 CFR Part 230)
No discharge may be permitted if:
1. Practicable alternative exists with less adverse impact
2. Discharge will cause/contribute to significant degradation
3. Discharge violates state water quality standards
4. All appropriate/practicable steps to minimize impacts not taken

#### Practicable Alternatives Analysis
- **Non-water dependent activities**: Presumption that upland alternatives exist
- Must evaluate: No action, alternative sites, project modifications
- "Practicable" = available and capable of being done considering cost, technology, logistics

#### Mitigation Sequence
1. **Avoidance** - First priority
2. **Minimization** - Reduce unavoidable impacts
3. **Compensatory Mitigation** - Replace lost aquatic functions

#### Compensatory Mitigation Options (33 CFR Part 332)
- **Mitigation banks** - Preferred option
- **In-lieu fee programs** - Second preference
- **Permittee-responsible mitigation** - Third preference

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## CLEAN AIR ACT PERMITS

### Title V Operating Permits

**Citation**: 42 USC § 7661-7661f; 40 CFR Part 70 (state programs), Part 71 (federal)

#### Purpose
Consolidate all applicable CAA requirements into a single, federally enforceable permit.

#### Applicability - Major Sources

| Area Classification | Threshold (Any Single Pollutant) |
|--------------------|----------------------------------|
| Criteria Pollutants (Attainment) | 100 tpy |
| Criteria Pollutants (Moderate Nonattainment) | 100 tpy |
| Criteria Pollutants (Serious Nonattainment) | 50 tpy |
| Criteria Pollutants (Severe Nonattainment) | 25 tpy |
| Criteria Pollutants (Extreme Nonattainment) | 10 tpy |
| HAPs (Single) | 10 tpy |
| HAPs (Combined) | 25 tpy |

#### Other Sources Requiring Title V
- Sources subject to NSPS or NESHAP
- Sources required to have PSD or NSR permits
- Affected sources under Acid Rain Program
- Solid waste incineration units (§ 129)

#### Permit Content
- All applicable requirements
- Monitoring requirements sufficient to assure compliance
- Recordkeeping and reporting requirements
- Annual compliance certification requirement
- Permit shield (optional)

#### Application and Renewal
- **Initial application**: Within 12 months of source becoming subject
- **Renewal application**: At least 6 months before expiration
- **Permit term**: Maximum 5 years
- **Significant modification**: Requires EPA review (45 days)
- **Minor modification**: May proceed upon permit authority approval

### New Source Review (NSR)

**Citation**: 42 USC § 7475 (PSD), § 7503 (Nonattainment NSR); 40 CFR Parts 51, 52

#### Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
Applies to new major sources or major modifications in **attainment areas**.

**Major Source Thresholds**:
- 250 tpy for most sources
- 100 tpy for 28 listed source categories (power plants, refineries, etc.)

**PSD Requirements**:
1. Best Available Control Technology (BACT)
2. Air quality analysis demonstrating NAAQS/PSD increments protected
3. Additional impact analysis (soils, vegetation, visibility)
4. Public participation

**PSD Increments** (Maximum allowable increases):

| Pollutant | Class I Areas | Class II Areas |
|-----------|---------------|----------------|
| PM10 (Annual) | 4 µg/m³ | 17 µg/m³ |
| PM2.5 (Annual) | 1 µg/m³ | 4 µg/m³ |
| SO2 (Annual) | 2 µg/m³ | 20 µg/m³ |
| NO2 (Annual) | 2.5 µg/m³ | 25 µg/m³ |

#### Nonattainment NSR
Applies to new major sources or major modifications in **nonattainment areas**.

**Requirements**:
1. Lowest Achievable Emission Rate (LAER)
2. Emission offsets (ratio depends on severity)
3. All existing sources in compliance or on compliance schedule
4. Facility-wide compliance certification

**Offset Ratios**:

| Nonattainment Severity | Offset Ratio |
|-----------------------|--------------|
| Marginal | 1.1 to 1 |
| Moderate | 1.15 to 1 |
| Serious | 1.2 to 1 |
| Severe | 1.3 to 1 |
| Extreme | 1.5 to 1 |

### NESHAPs (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants)

**Citation**: 42 USC § 7412; 40 CFR Part 61 (original), Part 63 (MACT)

#### Part 63 MACT Standards
- Apply to major sources of HAPs
- Technology-based: Maximum Achievable Control Technology
- Source category-specific standards
- Initial notification, performance testing, monitoring, reporting

#### Part 61 Standards
- Older standards for specific pollutants (asbestos, benzene, radionuclides)
- Remain in effect where not superseded

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## RCRA PERMITS

### Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) Permits

**Citation**: 42 USC § 6925; 40 CFR Parts 264, 270

#### Applicability
Facilities that treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste require a RCRA permit (unless exempt).

#### Exemptions from Permitting
- Generators storing waste on-site < 90 days (large quantity generators)
- Small quantity generators (180/270 days)
- Totally enclosed treatment facilities
- Elementary neutralization units
- Wastewater treatment units regulated under CWA
- Recyclable materials (certain categories)

#### Permit Application Components

**Part A Application** (EPA Form 8700-23):
- Facility name and location
- Owner/operator information
- Waste codes to be managed
- Design capacity
- Process descriptions

**Part B Application**:
1. General facility description
2. Chemical and physical analyses of wastes
3. Security procedures
4. Inspection schedule
5. Personnel training program
6. Preparedness and prevention
7. Contingency plan
8. Manifest system procedures
9. Groundwater monitoring program
10. Closure and post-closure plans
11. Financial assurance documentation
12. Corrective action for SWMUs

#### Technical Standards (40 CFR Part 264)
- Unit-specific standards (containers, tanks, surface impoundments, waste piles, landfills, incinerators)
- General facility standards
- Groundwater monitoring
- Closure and post-closure care
- Financial assurance

#### Permit Terms
- Maximum 10 years
- Review every 5 years (Class 2 or 3 modification if changes needed)
- Corrective action conditions may extend beyond permit term

### Land Disposal Restrictions (LDRs)

**Citation**: 40 CFR Part 268

- Treatment standards must be met before land disposal
- Prohibitions on certain disposal methods
- May require permits for treatment units

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## OTHER SIGNIFICANT PERMITS

### EPCRA/TRI Reporting

**Citation**: 42 USC § 11001 et seq.; 40 CFR Parts 350, 355, 370, 372

Not permits but significant compliance obligations:
- Emergency Planning (§ 302-303)
- Emergency Release Notification (§ 304)
- Hazardous Chemical Inventory (§ 311-312)
- Toxic Release Inventory (§ 313)

### Underground Injection Control (UIC)

**Citation**: 42 USC § 300h; 40 CFR Parts 144-148

| Class | Description | Permit Type |
|-------|-------------|-------------|
| I | Hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste | Individual |
| II | Oil and gas related | Individual or area |
| III | Mining (in-situ) | Individual or area |
| IV | Hazardous waste (prohibited) | Banned |
| V | All others | Generally authorized by rule |
| VI | CO2 sequestration | Individual |

### Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans

**Citation**: 40 CFR Part 112

Facilities with:
- Oil storage capacity > 1,320 gallons above ground, OR
- > 42,000 gallons underground
- Reasonable expectation of discharge to navigable waters

Requirements:
- Written SPCC Plan (certified by PE)
- Secondary containment
- Inspections and personnel training
- Review and amendment every 5 years

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## STATE PERMIT PROGRAMS

### Delegation/Authorization
Most federal programs allow state assumption:
- NPDES: 47 states authorized
- Title V: Most states have approved programs
- RCRA: Most states have base authorization

### State-Only Requirements
States may impose requirements more stringent than federal:
- Lower emission/discharge limits
- Additional monitoring/reporting
- Permit-by-rule programs
- Variances and exemptions

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## PERMIT TIMING AND STRATEGY

### Typical Permit Timelines

| Permit Type | Typical Duration |
|-------------|-----------------|
| Individual NPDES | 6-12 months |
| Section 404 Individual | 6-24 months |
| Title V (New) | 12-18 months |
| PSD | 12-24 months |
| RCRA TSDF | 24-48 months |

### Integrated Permitting Strategy
1. Identify all required permits early
2. Sequence permit applications appropriately
3. Coordinate with multiple agencies
4. Address pre-application consultations (NEPA, ESA, historic preservation)
5. Build in time for public comment and potential appeals

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## Key Citations

- **NPDES**: 33 USC § 1342; 40 CFR Parts 122-125
- **Section 404**: 33 USC § 1344; 40 CFR Part 230; 33 CFR Parts 320-332
- **Title V**: 42 USC § 7661; 40 CFR Parts 70-71
- **PSD/NSR**: 42 USC §§ 7475, 7503; 40 CFR Parts 51-52
- **RCRA**: 42 USC § 6925; 40 CFR Parts 264, 270
- **UIC**: 42 USC § 300h; 40 CFR Parts 144-148
- **SPCC**: 40 CFR Part 112

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*Last Updated: March 2026*
*This reference is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.*